Electric switch for automobile starters



June 24, 1924. 1.498,818

R. T. SMITH ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILE STARTERS Filed Dec. 23, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Srur/er ame/wtoac Jude 24, 1924.

File De 23. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 24, 1924.

UNITED STATES REUBEN '1- SIITE, OI JACKSON, mmsns, ASSIGNOB 'I'INKLE, OF JACKSON,

or mm 'ro 'mom a. as.

ELECTRIC SWITCH FOB AUTOIOBILE STARTERS."

Application fled December a, 1921. Serial 10. 584,440.

To all whom it may comerh:

Be it known that I, REUBEN T. Sm'ra, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Madison and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches for Automobile Starters, of which the following is a specificatiom My inventlon relates to improvements in 1 electrically operated switches for automobile starters, in particular or for internal combustion engines in general, and th object of the invention is to makethe switch function to automatically disconnect the magnets when the switch button isreleased, as soon as the engine has started, thereby economizing electnc current.

Another object of this invention is to construct the parts simply and substantially, so that they may stand rough handling'without getting out of order; and also to provide suitable adjustments, thereby making the apparatus applicable to great variations in voltage. In the accompany- 5 ing drawings one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated; and

Figure 1 shows a. vertical section of the device with the; related circuits shown diagrammatically Figure 2 is a transverse section of Figure 1 along lines 2-2;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the details; and

Figure 4 is a similar view of another detail.

In the box or housing 10 the device is enclosed and it consists of the following main parts. An arm 11 is pivoted at one end of the box 10 as at 12 and is held by a spring 13 in a raised position through the intermediary of a bolt 14 having an adjusting nut 15, by means of which the lifting power of the spring with relation to the arm 11 may b changed to suit conditions. At the free end of the arm 11 is suspended a rod 16 by means of nuts 17. At the lower end of this rod 16 is secured a bridge 18, which, as best seen in Figure 4, is laminated or built up of several thin leaves. Between the bridge 18 and the free end of the arm 11 is inserted a compression spring 19 tending to press the bridge 18 downwardly from the arm 11.

In the top of the box is inserted a screw 20 threaded in a plate or washer 21 Secured 1n the to and a lock nut 22 ges the outer en of the screw 20. In a ignment w1th the set screw 20, about midway between the ends of the arm 11, I provide an armature 23 which is secured in place by means of a threaded shank 24 and a nut 25. The armature 23 is placed on the underside of the lever 11 with the shank 24 protrudmg upwardly to form a stop a ainst the set screw 20 to limit the u wart? motion imparted by sprmg 13 to t e arm 11.

Below the armature 23 are situated a pair of electro-magnets 26 carried on suitable brackets 27 on the box 10. The cores 28 of the magnets protrude upwardly in a suitable position to make contact with the armature 23.

An elbow lever 30 is pivoted as at 31, preferably in the bottom of the box 10, in such a manner that it will have an oscillatory movement in the longitudinal plane of the box, that is to say in the longitudinal direction of the arm 11, in which an a rture 32 is provided for the hooked en 33 of the elbow lever 30. A late 34 provided on the top of the lever and held in position by nut 25 extends to the aperture 32, so that the hook 33 of the elbow lever 30 may be able to engage over this plate 34, when the arm 11 is in the lowered or closing posit1on. A sprmg 36 tends to throw the hook 33 in direction of engagement with the plate 34. At approximately right-angles to the hook portion 33 of the elbow lever 30 a finger 37 reaches almost to the back of the box 10. This finger 37 is preferably made of soft iron or constructed to form an armature for a pair of cutoff ma ets 38 carried on the bracket 39 fastene to one side of the box 10. 95

In alignment with the finger 37 of the elbow lever 30 is to be found a spring con tact preferably consisting of two springs 40 and 41 properly insulated as at 42 and having contact points 43 and 44. These contact points are normally contacting as seen in Figure 1 and adapted to be opened b finger 37 directly the hook 33 engages with the plate 34 to hold arm 11 in its lower position.

The main circuit consists of two conductors 45 and 46 having contact posts 47 and 48 positioned opposite the ends of the bridge 18, and includes the startin motor 49 properly grounded as at 50 an, he bat y 1 110 justed for different voltages.

grounded as at 52. It will be evident that upon lowering the bridge 18 to the posts 47 and 48 this ma'incircuit is closed and the starting motor 49 set in motion.

A second circuit is formed with battery 51, conductor 53, conductor 54, switch button 55, conductor 56, terminal 57, conductor 58, secured to the coils of magnets 26, conductor 59, leading from said magnets to the spring contact 40 and 43, conductor 60 connecting spring contact 41 and 44 with terminal 61, which is grounded through conductor 62. In this circuit is enclosed an ammeter 63 and an ignition switch '64 for the ignition unit 65 connected with the W1I'e 53 and grounded as at 66. l r

The switch button WhlCh is provided with a spring 67 is constructed to normally hold the second circuit open as seen in Flgure 1. With the switch button 55in open position it forms electric connect1on with the ground 68 through points 75, 76, conductor 69, terminal 70, conductor 71 leading to cut-off magnets 38, the other end of their coils being connected with the br dge 18 through shunt 72. It will be evident, that by suitable ad ustment of nut 15, set screw 20 and lock nut 22 the distance between the armature 23 and core 28 of the electro-magnet 26 may be ad- As soon as the correct position of the armature 23 and the arm 11 has been found, the distance between the bridge 18 and the posts 47 and 48 in the main circuit will be adjusted by means of nuts 17 on the rod 16. It will be observed, that when the bridge 18 is raised from the posts 47 and 48, as seen in Figure 1, the hook 33 is held back by the wall of the aperture 32 and the finger37 oi the elbow lever 30 is slightly raised above the spring contact 41, 44, while the finger forming the armature for the cut-off magnets 38 does not yet contact with the cores of said magnets. This is the normal or open posi-- tion for the device.

To start the engine the following procedure is to be carried out. The ignition switch 64 is first closed, thereby preparing the ignition unit 65 to act at the roper time. By now pressing the switch utton 55 inward connection is made between tors 53, 54, points 74, 73, conductor 56, terminal 57, conductor 58 over the magnetcoils of the electromagnets 26, through conductor 59, spring contact 40, 43 and 44, 41,

conductor 60, terminal 61, to ground at 62, thus completing the circuit and energizing the core 28, which will-thereupon attract armature 23 and lower arm 11. This will close the contact of the main circuit through the bridge '18 over the posts 47 and 48, so that the current in the main cir- 'cuit will run from battery 51, conductor 46, post 48, bridge 18, post 47, conductor 45 through motor 49 to ground 50. This will start the motor, which will in turn start the rotor of the combustion engine, the ignition unit 65 providing sparks for the explosions in the engine.

Directl the arm 11 is lowered the spring 36 will t row the elbow lever 30 forward in the direction of the electro-magnets 26 and the hook 33 will en a 9 with the plate 34 to hold the arm 11 focied in thisposition. At the same time the fin er 37 will depress the spring contact 41 an 44, thereby breaking the second circuit, which energized the magnets 26, thereupon releasing the armature 23. But as the hook 33 still holds the arm 11 down, the contact between posts 47 and 48 over the brid e 18 will still keep the main circuit close This will continue, as long as the switch button 55 is pressed against the points 73 and 74.

Directly the pressure on the switch button 55 ceases, contact is made throu h points 75 and 76 so that current now w1ll run from battery 51, conductor 46, post 48, bridge 18, shunt wire 72, cut-off magnets 38, the current continuing through conductor 71, post 70, conductor 69, point 76, plate of switch 55, point 75, to ground 68. The finger 37 will now be attracted by the cutoff magnets 38, thereby throwing out book .33, which will release arm 11. This arm will now be raised by means of spring 13 and break the main circuit over posts 47 and 48 by raising bridge 18 and also cutting oif current to magnets 38.

Instead of single wire type of the circuit for the ignition unit 65 shown in Figure 1, a two wire circuit may be used. In that case terminal 57 has to be connected to the return wire of the ignition unit instead of being grounded as at 66 as now shown in Figure 1.

In case magneto ignition is used, conductor 54 would be connected to ammeter 63 or to some other suitable point in the circuit to draw current from the battery.

It should be noted that considerable saving of current is obtained by the use of this apparatus, instead of other types of electrically'operated starter switches, as the current is automatically and immediately cut ofl from the magnets directly its duty in the cycle hasvbeen performed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a switching arrangement for a main circuit containing a battery, a pair of contact posts and a bridge for said contact posts; means for normally holding said bridge out of contact with said post, said means including an armature; an electromagnet for said armature, a second circuit containing saidmagnet and said battery, a

normally closed spring contact, a switch for closing said second circuit, whereby said magnet becomes energized and attracts said armature to close said main circuit by means of said bridge, a latch member adapted to lock said bridge in contact position through the intermediary of said means and simultaneously actuating said spring contact: to open the latter, thereby cutting off current to said electromagnet.

2. In a switching arrangement for a main circuit containing a battery, a pair of contact posts and a bridge for said contact posts; means for normally holding said bridge out of contact with said post, said means including an armature; an electromagnct for said armature, a second circuit containing said magnet and said battery, a normally closed spring contact, a switch for closing said second circuit, whereby said magnet becomes energized and attracts said armature to close said main circuit by means of said bridge, a latch member adapted to lock said bridge in contact position through the intermediary of said means and simultaneously actuating said spring contact to open the latter, thereby cutting off current to said electromagnet; a shunt connection from said bridge, a cut-off magnet in said shunt connection, an armature on said member for said cut-oft magnet, said shunt connection being grounded through said switch when open; whereby, upon opening said switch, said cut-off magnet becomes energized to attract said latch armature, the latch thereupon releasing said means, the latter then lifting said bridge to open said main circuit and said latch also releasing said spring contact to the second circuit to close the spring contact.

3. In a switching arrangement for a main circuit containing a battery, a pair of contact posts and a bridge for said contact posts; means for normally holding said bridge out of contact with said posts. said means including an armature; and electromagnet for said armature, a second circuit containing said magnet and said battery, and a switch for closing said second circuit. whereby said magnet becomes energized and attracts said armature to close said main circuitby means of said bridge; said means comprising an arm pivoted at one end and carrying said armature, a stem at the free end of said arm carrying said bridge. an adjustable compression member between said bridge and said arm, a lifting spring for said arm and adjusting elements for adjusting the amount of oscillation of the arm.

4. In a switching arrangement for a main circuit containing a battery, a pair of contact posts and a bridge for said contact posts; means for normally holding said bridge out of contact with said post, said means including an-armature; an electromagnet for said armature, a second circuit, containing said magnet and said battery, a normally closed sprlng contact, a switch for closing said second circuit whereby said} magnet becomes energized and attracts said armature to close said main circuit by means of said bridge, a latch member adapted to lock said bridge in contact position through the intermediary of said means and simultaneously actuating said spring contact to open the latter, thereby cutting off current to said electromagnet; said latch member consisting of an elbow lever having a hook at one extremity adapted to engage with said means when in contacting position, its other extremity being formed as a finger engaging said spring contact.

5. In a switching arrangement for a main circuit containing a battery, a pair of contact posts and a bridge for said contact posts; means for normally holding said bridge out of contact with said post, said means including an armature; an electromagnet for said armature, a second circuit containing said magnet and said battery, a normally closed spring contact, a switch for closing said second circuit, whereby said magnet becomes energized and attracts said armature to close said main circuit by means of said bridge, a latch member adapted to lock said bridge in contact position through the intermediary of said means and simultaneously actuating said spring contact to open the latter, thereby cutting off current to said electromagnet; said latch member consisting of an elbow lever having a hook at one extremity adapted to engage with said means when in contacting position, its other extremity being formed as a finger engaging said spring contact; a shunt connection from said bridge being grounded through said switch when open, a cut-off magnet in said shunt connection and an armature therefor on'the finger of said lat-ch, whereby upon opening said switch. said cut-oft magnet becomes energized to attract said lat-ch armature. the latch thereupon releasing said means, said means then lifting said bridge to open said main circuit and said latch also releasing said spring contact of the secondcircuit to close the spring contact.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

REUBEN T. SMITH. [1,. s.] 

